1955
13 January 1955
Forty Boys Lose Their Lodgings
The capable Matron has left. The doors of the Mudgee Boys’ Hostel have closed. Forty youngsters from the country and nearby towns who relied upon it in order to attend school locally, now have to look elsewhere for accommodation.
Just what the closure will mean to these boys cannot be appreciated unless one considers the shortage of lodgings elsewhere in town. For some, doubtless it will mean transferring to schools at Dubbo or Wellington, at which centres they have better chances of finding somewhere to stay. To others (the lucky ones) it will mean boarding with private families-and the disadvantages and increased costs this will entail.
Commenting on the decision to shut down the hostel, one of Mudgee’s best known charitable workers said last Friday that she could see no reason for it.
“The hostel is greatly needed,” she said. “When I think of forty youngsters without anywhere to go, it makes my blood boil.
“Surely the businessmen of town and the farmers and graziers of the country would subscribe if they were asked for money to keep the building open.”
The same lady went on to say that for the first school term in 1955 fifty boys had applied for accommodation, and she was sure the hostel would more than pay its way. Last year, with ten less boarders, a small profit had been made.
She added that a short period of misfortune some time ago had cost the Hostel Committee a quite substantial sum, but since then things had run very smoothly.
HOSTEL’S HISTORY
On the whole, the Boys’ Hostel in Mudgee has a somewhat checkered history.
The actual project was mooted by Rev. Don Wilcox who perceived the need for helping country children attain to higher education by attending Secondary Schools in town. With customary energy he tackled the problem, and within a short space the Presbyterian Church found itself in possession of the present building.
It was not until some time later that there occurred the period of misfortune referred to above, during which the boys practically ran riot and wrecked a deal of furniture and fittings. Not that the youngsters were larrikins, only that their high spirits were not subject to adequate discipline.
Certain members of the Committee then got their heads together and commenced a “cleaning-up campaign,” and within no time at all the effect of their forcefulness was felt. The hostel again became a well-regulated house, and under such outstanding officers as Matron Reid it has prospered and gained a deserved reputation for first-rate accommodation at reasonable cost.
Last year everything appeared, on the surface, to be going along swimmingly. But, beneath, there were three factors which, before 1955 dawned, were to see the building closed.
These were:
Of the forty boys availing themselves of the hostel facilities, only two were Presbyterian.
The bad period through which the institution had passed had caused a nasty taste in the mouths of some Presbyterians, who felt the reputation of their Church may have suffered, and would certainly do so if ever there was a recurrence.
It was evident that, before long, extensive repairs would have to be carried out on the building.
Under any circumstances the Presbyterian Church cannot be blamed for the decision it made. Rather must it be thanked for mooting the project and carrying it through,
However, it does seem a great pity that no other organisation or group will continue the good work.
The Mudgee C.W.A. is one body which has shown interest, but unfortunately it has on hand a considerable programme of its own. With the running of the Girl’s Hostel and Baby Health Centre, its hands more or less are tied, and also there is the question of finance.
So forty boys are boardless. For the lucky ones it means only a change of lodging; but for the others it will result in a change of school, and if they are sitting this year for either of the two major High School examinations, then so much the worse for them1
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